A non-governmental organisation, Emefiele Mobilisation Team (EMT) has spurned reports suggesting that the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, is partisan and actively involved in politics ahead of the 2023 polls.
EMT was reacting to media reports in which a civil society organisation (CSO) chided the CBN governor for allowing himself to be partisan.
In a statement by its spokesman, Bashir Mohammed, EMT stated that Emefiele “remains solely focused on his job of ensuring monetary and price stability, maintaining external reserves, providing economic and financial advice to the Federal Government and promoting a sound financial system in Nigeria.
“First and foremost, it must be stated that Godwin Emefiele has not stated or indicated in any way that he is interested in vying for the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Contrary to the claims of the CSOs, which have repeatedly push their questionable agenda in the past, Mr Emefiele has not been involved in any political activity of any kind, talk less of compromising the apex bank through purported “political activities”, Mohammed added.
EMT recalled that recently, Emefiele launched the 100 for 100 Policy for Production and Productivity (PPP), a CBN intervention designed to stimulate investments in Nigeria’s priority sectors with the core objective of boosting production and productivity.
Mohammed said, “He (the CBN governor) has also unveiled the Mega Rice and Maize Pyramids in the FCT and Kaduna recently, both being results of the massively successful Emefiele-led Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP), a programme which has financed over 4 million farmers, improved their productivity, increased rice output, reduced Agric imports and saved the country scarce forex,
“Mr Emefiele’s numerous past feats need not be mentioned as these are well-documented and known even to his distractors, and furthermore, are not the focus of this statement.
“Despite the attempts by some ill-meaning Nigerians to create confusion and distract Mr Emefiele and the CBN, Nigeria’s GDP is on the rise following its 3.4% growth in 2021, the fastest growth rate in 7 years. This is contrary to the claim by the CSOs that Mr Emefiele’s “subterranean interest” in the Presidency has become a massive distraction to the CBN and the financial sector of the country”.
EMT further described the CSOs’ allegation that the CBN’s money is being “wasted to fund different groups” as reckless and dangerous.
Mohammed queried: “What evidence do they have to back up such statements? In such sensitive socio-political times, such statements are dangerous and if these CSOs are responsible organisations as they would like to claim, it would be wise to backtrack from such reckless comments.
“Finally, the CSOs claim that “Nigerians have lost confidence” Mr Emefiele’s leadership is in complete contrast to the opinion of the majority of Nigerians, especially those in rural areas outside of the FCT where these CSOs restrict themselves to.
“Nigerians nationwide who have directly been impacted, directly and indirectly, by Emefiele’s good works continue to express their gratitude, confidence and belief that he continues to deliver on his mandate
“Being the honourable, exemplary and law-abiding citizen that Mr Emefiele is, if indeed he were interested in contesting for the post of President, he would do so in accordance with constitutional provisions and would without a doubt, be the capable, competent, seasoned, intelligent leader Nigeria requires in such challenging times